Poll Would A Facebook Type IM / Chatroom Be Better?

[anthony]

I am wondering whether members would prefer a FaceBook style chat system here over the present one. The current one has ups and downs... it is good for lots of users, but sucks to just have a one on one chat or to find when someone is online.

There is a FaceBook style chat slightly improved for integration into this forums software, which is vastly similar to the FaceBook one, except you can have a full chatroom if you like, it works the same as Facebook that when people are online it lets you know down the bottom right. You can hide your status, just like FaceBook, ie. online, busy or invisible to others for the chat aspect.

I will let people tell me... Yes or No?

You can look at the software features for yourself and even have a limited demo from the provider at http://www.cometchat.com

 

[cherryblossom]

It looks good to me. However, I've only ever had chats one to one on facebook. I've probably just missed something really simple. Do you know if multiple users can chat together at once? Is that the 'full chat room' that you mention?

 

[MizzASG]

The one that is available now seems pretty cool. I have never really seen anyone in there, So I don't know what chatting in there is like, or if you can private message people in there. But if you can already do that, I just say keep it, unless your looking for a cleaner, more simple and user friendly style, go with the Facebook style.

 

[anthony]

That is the problem with the current one mizza.... you have to go into it and wait around to see if somebody else comes in. Yes, you can IM within it now, but you have to be in it and so does the person you are IM'ing. This possible new one... just being on the forum itself, reading, etc... you then choose whether you are available for IM or not, but people can immediately one on one chat with you like FaceBook.

CB.. no, FaceBook does not have a group chat, this one does... being an added benefit if you have a few people who want to chat.

Me personally... I think the current system is flawed compared to something like an IM / Chat system. We had one previously, though it wasn't friendly and screwed with so many things... though it wasn't designed to be implemented with something like CMS / forum software real well. This one is designed to work with this software, which makes a huge difference right out of the gate.

 

[anthony]

More good intel on this... like FaceBook, it will only use your friends list as instantly accessible via the IM feature, so you don't just have new members coming on and trying to tie you down into conversations that you haven't first accepted as a friend into your profile. Very handy...

 

[Jimmy]

Anthony, the group room is handy when someone is feeling very down and just want to chat to someone else; however, can also be confusing when the room is packed and there is about 10 different conversations going on at once. Too much for the head to comprehend.
The FaceBook idea would be ideal also as you stated

so you don't just have new members coming on and trying to tie you down into conversations

I have not checked, but do you have the option of starting a private 'password protected' room. This has its pro's and con's though.

Jimmy

 

[anthony]

You have that option now, yes. The new one... no. It is more a friends based IM or public chat room. Now you have a public or private chat room. Both have pro's and con's, hence why I am asking what the majority want. I like the FaceBook one myself, as I like to only talk to firstly people I usually know, or if in a public chatroom, when I want. I agree, it does get hard in a chatroom with more than a few people all chatting at once. PTSDSpace has a FaceBook style IM, always has... but this place never had anything like that made for it, until now... thus I have discovered.

 

[anthony]

Ok... I get it, I get it.... :) LOL

The majority is clearly indicating towards the FaceBook IM / Chat option. I will get on it later today / tomorrow, remove the old and implement the new. Obviously I have to write an instruction of some kind for use, though first I must understand it myself. I also have to mix this in with other things going on.